Russia's War on Piracy/Malicious Software 150
tmk writes "Russian minister Leonid Reiman has announced new legislation to fight software piracy. According to official information the share of pirated software in the Russian Federation decreased in the last years from 90 to 60 percent. Reiman dismissed as a myth the impression that many viruses originate in his country: 'Viruses are written all over the world. Russia is waging a consistent and successful war on malicious software.' Reiman calls for an international organization to fight Internet crime. Last year Russia agreed to take down Allofmp3 after the United States intervened."
Copyright and fascism (Score:1, Insightful)
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Because CNN said so.
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Yeah, just keep in mind that when that same government is mugging you for crappy things like Socialist Security et al., those thuggings are somehow OK.
Because CNN said so.
Actually Social Security began long before CNN was even a gleam in Ted's eye in an attempt to keep the millions of hopeless people from "thugging" the rich at a time when pure capitalism proved to be a great failure.
Re:Copyright and fascism (Score:5, Insightful)
The US is just defending their interests abroad. They are the largest exporter of copyrighted material in the world, and large-scale copyright infringement abroad can have an effect on American jobs.
By that logic, people who use the GPL are scum, since it is copyright law that prevents non-GPL derivatives.
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As to hurting american jobs? So what - you're making the classic "broken window fallacy" error. Should we all smash windows to keep glaziers employed?
And do bear in mind that international opinion of the USA is at an all-time low - there are plenty of people who wouldn't normally e
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Re:Copyright and fascism (Score:4, Insightful)
And for people who are going to say "hey, the RIAA/MPAA/BSA/US Government are only protecting our interests abroad!"... um... no. They are only protecting corporate interests abroad and doing so by manipulating and demanding how other nations will behave.
This is a case of American corporations not liking the laws other nations have within their own borders. The reason we want to change their laws and force them to abide by our broken copyright systems is the same reason we want them to become democracies and the same reason that we allow corporations to do business in countries that are a risk to our nation by threat of military actions, spying and have terribly humanitarian records. That reason being that corporations have saturated existing markets. Everyone who is going to by a Justin Timberlake CD in America, Austrlia and the United Kingdom already has done so. To continue expanding their corporations, they need to expand into new markets.
Helping bring other countries into competition with us at the expense of our own nation and citizens will eventually level them off to a point where they can all afford to buy our CDs and DVDs and videogames, as long as their legal systems and copyright systems (which we will force them to devise and comply with to our liking). Meanwhile, the average person in America and the UK can have their lifestyles seriously reduced in quality before they will no longer be capable or willing to buy content from these corporations.
What is a "copyrightist?" (Score:2)
Is a "copyrightist" someone who believes that some form of copyright should exist? Or is a "copyrightist" someone who thinks copyright laws should be extended in duration and very strong in enforcement? Perhaps a "copyrightist" is someone who uses copyright enforcement as an excuse to implement invasive monitoring of information flow. Or is a "copyrightist" merely someone who disagrees with your views on copyright law?
I may not know what a "copyrightist" is, but at least thanks to your cogent analysis, at
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Copyrightists are approximately as scummy as your average politician. Mostly, they don't understand exactly what the economic effects of the policy they are pushing are compared to the alternatives, but they think they'll get big payouts themselves if they get it implemented.
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What I'd like to know is, why does everything have to be a "War on Something" nowadays?
The more they advertise something, the more likely that "something" is the opposite of what's stated. For example:
Let's declare war on war!
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Haven't you heard ? ...
We've always been at war with Eastasia^H^H^H^H^HOceania
I can't wait (Score:5, Insightful)
"The government will be expected to begin complying by June 1, 2007."
They only agreed to it is so they could get into the WTO.
We'll see how strong their resolve is & how quickly Allofmp3 returns.
Stop the slanting (Score:1, Insightful)
Stop calling it "piracy." This nomenclature implies a very debatable moral judgment. Since it is quite obvious that data duplication does not include rape or murder, it is a very ill-fitting term to begin with.
Just stop using it.
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In other words, not soon.
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What does "piracy" have to do with rape and murder? Pirates are *really cool* guys like Captain Jack Sparrow who try to look tough but are really good at heart. "Pirate" is also a somewhat amusing term for people who like to share data that other people are trying to sell.
Trying to fight against the terminology at this point is silly. It's much faster and easier to just accept the term and run with "Pirates are cool" - it's not like the term really has any negative connotation at all among people young en
Allofmp3 (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Allofmp3 (Score:5, Informative)
Walk to the subway station, and there are about 5 vendors who will happily sell you pirated version of any music CD, most DVDs, and almost any software for $5.
While there are plenty of people who download software in the US, you'll have a hard time finding that sort of rampant piracy in the US.
In fact, in Russia, I only remember one store where I could buy non-pirated CDs. The piracy isn't even the same order of magnitude.
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Re:Allofmp3 (Score:5, Funny)
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It all depends on how you calculate it. If it's by absolute number of users pirating software, or "lost" profits, then you are of course right. But the number we see more often is the percentage of all users who use pirated software - and that is certainly much higher in Russia. The 60% figure is a jo
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Re:Allofmp3 (Score:5, Interesting)
I actually put that to the test last time I was in Moscow. Was in one of the high end shopping districts near Red Square and walked up to one of the multitudes of CD street vendors. Asked her if she had Borat (which had been released to theaters only a couple of weeks before, and is actually banned in Russia).
Yup, had it. Just under the table. Commanded a premium price though, I seem to remember it was around 300 rubles (about $10).
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I'm amazed at their distribution network. (Score:2)
I think what you really meant to say was "most popular" and "newly released".
... right now.
The same in China. They bootleg whatever sells well
But they don't keep massive databanks of every DVD / CD / software ever produced. Ready to be burned, printed and sold to you.
How could you tell the difference between pirated CD's and non-pirated CD's in a sto
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yarr, malicious software must go... (Score:2, Redundant)
Russian Pirates, (Score:2)
Re:yarr, malicious software must go... (Score:5, Funny)
Second, you've got the word 'but' and 'pirates' MUCH too close to each other for my liking.
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Do you know why this yarr phrase is associated with pirates? I see it everywhere on the 'net, but I fail to see the connection. My spontaneous guess is that it comes from some movie, but I really haven't got the faintest idea.
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Eye witness report. (Score:5, Interesting)
I am system administrator in a large nuclear physics institute in Moscow, which is by no mere coincidence a vital part of the Russian internet backbone. Since my day one I've been advocating Linux and free software, and here's the fruit: already about 10% of the institute's workers, including the director himself, use various distributions of Linux [mostly Ubuntu/Debian, Mandriva and Red Hat]. Besides, I'm currently engaged in talks with Sun regarding our migration to Sun Ray, which will run on a customized Debian system.
I believe that if the result will look as I expect it to, the university [it's the largest university in Russia and AFAIK Europe] which we are a significant part of might break off Microsoft crap in toto, although this statement can be considered a pure speculation at this moment.
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At least with Linux, it is fairly easy to know where the code is coming from and verify that it is the same as all the other copies.
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Is it still so easy when your only source for Linux is the sidewalk vendor and your only access to the net is the Internet Cafe?
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Re:Eye witness report. (Score:4, Insightful)
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Damn Russian communists!
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Imperialism (Score:4, Interesting)
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To keep your domestic cultural product -- your cultural heritage -- from being utterly extinquished by cheap foreign imports?
Copy Wrong: Internet Piracy and Dickens and Melville [americanheritage.com]
To help build and protect an export market?
How much do you suppose "James Bond" and "Harry Potter" have returned to the UK? J.K. Rowling went from being on the dole to being richer than the Queen in under ten ye
Re:Imperialism (Score:5, Insightful)
How long did it take JK Rowling to earn that much money? Certainly not the amount of time that currently is set in the copyright laws. It's just too long. A lot of great content is locked up by this law, no one in this generation will ever learn of them if this law will still stand.
I'm not against copyright laws, but the ones in place right now are outright ludicrous in regards to amount of time they span.
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There are over 1,000 titles in print in the Penguin Classics series alone. 750 pounds of books. 80 linear feet. The Penguin Classics Complete [amazon.com]
The Movies Unlimited catalog runs to 800 pages.
Conservation costs money. Restoration costs money. That is why your $2 commercial DVD rip of
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Are you serious?
There are a lot (and I do mean a lot) of content that's missing from public record, and we are denied access to it, by these insane laws.
The copyright-law's intention is to encourage content creators to make new content, and to have a short period of monopoly on their product, before it went into public domain f
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In the meantime, if copyright laws were not so strict, other writers would be able to get off welfare to decent living by writing additional stories in Harry Potter universe. In time, some of them would build up their reputation and publish further books unrelated to Harry Potter. UK would have a thousand new good writers, J.K. Rowling would still be doing well and British people would avoid the embarrassment of havin
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As much as I hate copyright and agree with you, the potential benefit of it all could be a massive switch to free software. Let's wait and see (not that I have many hopes...)
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Russia is requesting membership into the WTO and part one of the requirements is to respect international copyright law. They are more than welcome to ignore international copyright laws all they want but it will come at the cost of not being allowed membership into the WTO.
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Why is that, surely they can be expelled from WTO for using increased profits it brings for oppressing their own population and violating international laws?
Others doing something illegal is no excuse for one's own illegal actions.
It's a matter of legal debate [oyez.org]
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Given the above, how is copywrite law against the interests of the population and future economic power? Do you fundamentally disagree with the concept of copywrite, or do you disagree with the pr
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There are many alternatives that would make a kid actually computer literate rather than just another powerpoint whiz.
It is in the best interests of countries to not develop their economic infrastructure based primarily on a foreign product like Windows. Because if they continue allowing copyright violations then the rich countries impose sanctions and stifle invest
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I suggest telling Adobe and Microsoft to die in a fire and using Free Software that can be fully supported locally instead. These harsh copyright laws are doing you a favor - why let yourself get sucked in to the upgrade treadmill and culture-crushing poor local language support that is proprietary software?
"a kid being computer illiterate"??? (Score:2)
There are plenty of benefits using open software. There are fewer games, less distraction to serious work with computers, more transparent access to the internals of the programs.
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2. How will this impact his job opportunities vs using the software that most companies use. "A great graphics designer with extensive experience in Magick"
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Literacy = general basics of computer skills
Education = knowledge in specific areas
Yup, businesses now get audited and sued (Score:3, Interesting)
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Get him to buy an Ubuntu desktop support package for $240 from Canonical and say that it includes unlimited desktop installs.
No one paid anything (Score:2)
Yes I do (Score:2)
I'm sure the guy could have gotten away with it for much less if he had connections in the police, though.
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The word has a different meaning here in the US (Score:2)
piracy rate 90% - 60%? (Score:1)
Allofmp3.com shut down? (Score:1)
Re:Allofmp3.com shut down? (Score:5, Interesting)
Basically, American perception that the Russian gov't is shutting down allofmp3.com is a misperception, and one which I suspect the Russians are happy not to correct. Perhaps they'll get around to changing the law, but remember that allofmp3.com pays a cut to some Russian licensing agency -- not sure where that money goes, but wouldn't surprise me if money is finding its way into gov't coffers (or politicians' pockets?)
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1. Poison everyone involved with radioactive pellets.
2. Change the law so that allofmp3.com is operating outside it.
An interesting sidenote... the RIAA were narrowly outvoted on that.
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What about all the other AllofMyMP3s-like sites? (Score:2, Interesting)
Not to mention the incredibly effective job that street based anti-piracy enforcement has achieved.Not.
At best, it provides another opportunity for the cops to shake down stall holders.
I think you will find anyone selling pirated CDs finds it easier to pay the cops or copyright inspects an "on the spot fine". That way ev
Giggleski (Score:3, Funny)
Oh Mercy Me! It's great to begin my week with a good joke!
Why don't they develop their own software? (Score:2, Insightful)
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And btw, they aren't "pirating" anything, they are sharing stuff that works for them with their fellow men. Why should it be their problem when some greedy-as-fuck overseas copyright fascists want to censor interpersonal communication and information exchage?
Re:obligatory (Score:5, Insightful)
e.g. : In Soviet Russia, you own your software, in America your software owns you.
To be precise (Score:2, Insightful)
The American part should be changed accordingly.
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Re:Damn! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:War on piracy...pffft! (Score:4, Informative)
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If the reason is to create artificial scarcity in an effort to maintain a certain type of private monopoly, I see no societal use for copyrights whatsoever.
US copyright has good fair use, European copyrights have good moral rights. I'd like to see those two combined and the rest strip
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Meh. Moral rights don't actually exist, no one actually follows through on the idea, whatever they might say to the contrary, and they're a craptastic idea. Better to reform copyright from a wholly utilitarian approach (in which the object isn't to maintain a private monopoly, but to achieve societal goals through the careful and limited use of monopolies)
Moral rights do exist, in European copyright law. And on the whole they work pretty well, much like trademarks. You are 110% correct on the latter part of your post, though. I do however believe that moral rights would play an important part in that equation, particularly the right to be asserted as the author. That alone is probably worth much more as an incentive to create than a 1000-year copyright would be. Lots of people create stuff for recognition and fame alone and we will probably need some kind o
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If an author creates a work that is read by tens of thousands but only actually sold it to 1 person, who then copied it and profited, that author will not continue to have the time to write other works because he'll need to have another job to pay the bills. Do you not see it that way?
No, simply because this is not what actually happens. It is a theoretical worst case scenario with no grounding whatsoever in reality. First off, how do you propose this person could profit from the author's work? He does not have the author's support in selling copies (no book-signing tour, no live gigs, no nothing), no advantage in production (printing and distribution costs are the same whether or not you are the author) and he still has to out-sell the author by a 10 000-to-1 margin. That's quite impre
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We're gonna have a whole lotta fun
The call to arms from the privileged elite. You never quite know whether to cry or to laugh.
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Yeah. Just like the old days [jstor.org]. Kinda makes me nostalgic.
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The Virginia planter was sunk in debt before the Revolution. The Virginia planter would be sunk in debt after the Revolution.
Export low priced agricultural goods. Import high priced manufactured goods.
Work the soil to exhaustion. Tie up your capital in slaves and land. Invest in nothing else.
The trade financed at both ends by bankers in London and New York, at a very good rate of interest.
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Your points may be good as far as they go, but they hardly capture the sum total of the Human Race. Still, if you feel this way and are certain that you're right, then go ahead - lead the charge into oblivion. You go on, and the rest of us will be along later.
Re:I give up on humanity,hope we burn in nuclear f (Score:2)
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for corporations and governments it's for PR issues.
for individuals it's to engender the good graces of others by being able to say to others "i donate to this charity".
It's all about posturing, engendering friendship in people to use in order to further your own goals, it has nothing to do with this noble compassion and generosity you say exists.
real compassion is donating anonymously, without claims, and dying with that secr
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Why should they? Put the research where it belongs, to university labs. Keep it open and shared, and develop cures for more diseases instead of having three manufacturers making three expensive patented variants of the same drug that differ only by a position of an unimportant methyl group, or that are different salts of the same molecule. The same money that are paid for drugs by insurance compa
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Who is going to pay for the research, and who is going to decide what drugs to research? You'll end up with more government bloat and politics. Do you really want people to hold political rallies so that their disease will get proper funding. Is it fair for government to take your money to spend on medicine you will never need? A market driven environment means the people who benefit from a drug end up paying for it.